Method and apparatus for controlling optical switch

Abstract

A response-time storing unit stores a response time from start of output of driving force required for switching paths until stabilization of the driving force, for each of the paths to be connected. A driving-force correcting unit corrects output level of the driving force, starting correction of the output level of the driving force after the response time for a specified path stored in the response-time storing unit has passed since output of the driving force required for switching to the specified path started.

1 . An optical-switch control apparatus that controls switching of paths in an optical switch, the optical-switch control apparatus comprising: 
 a response-time storing unit that stores a response time from start of output of driving force required for switching paths until stabilization of the driving force, for each of the paths to be connected; and    a driving-force correcting unit that corrects output level of the driving force, wherein    the driving-force correcting unit starts correction of the output level of the driving force after the response time for a specified path stored in the response-time storing unit has passed since output of the driving force required for switching to the specified path started.    
   
   
       2 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an output monitoring unit that monitors a signal level of an output signal light from the optical switch, wherein    the driving-force correcting unit corrects the output level of the driving force when the signal level of the output signal light monitored by the output monitoring unit is out of a predetermined range.    
   
   
       3 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an output control unit that controls to output the driving force simultaneously to all driving-force output destinations associated with the paths to be connected, wherein    the response time is determined based on a time from starting control of the driving force output to each of the driving-force output destinations by the output control unit until stabilization of the driving force for a driving-force output destination that takes longest time for the driving force to be stabilized.    
   
   
       4 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 an output control unit that controls output of the driving force to each of driving-force output destinations based on an order of outputting the driving force and an interval of starting output of the driving force determined for each of the paths to be connected, wherein    the response time is determined based on a time from starting control of the driving force output to each of the driving-force output destinations by the output control unit until stabilization of the driving force for a driving-force output destination for which the driving force is output last.    
   
   
       5 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein 
 the driving force a voltage; and    the driving-force output destination is either one of two electrodes in an electro-optical device formed by sandwiching a material having an electro-optical effect between the two electrodes.    
   
   
       6 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein 
 the driving force a voltage; and    the driving-force output destination is either one of two electrodes in an electro-optical device formed by sandwiching a material having an electro-optical effect between the two electrodes.    
   
   
       7 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein 
 the voltage is generated by a circuit configured with a general-purpose amplifier.    
   
   
       8 . The optical-switch control apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein 
 the voltage is generated by a circuit configured with a general-purpose amplifier.    
   
   
       9 . A method of controlling switching of paths in an optical switch, the method comprising: 
 storing a response time from start of output of driving force required for switching paths until stabilization of the driving force, for each of the paths to be connected; and    correcting output level of the driving force, wherein    the correcting includes starting correction of the output level of the driving force after the response time for a specified path stored at the storing has passed since output of the driving force required for switching to the specified path started.    
   
   
       10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 monitoring a signal level of an output signal light from the optical switch, wherein    the correcting includes correcting the output level of the driving force when the signal level of the output signal light monitored at the monitoring is out of a predetermined range.    
   
   
       11 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 controlling to output the driving force simultaneously to all driving-force output destinations associated with the paths to be connected, wherein    the response time is determined based on a time from starting control of the driving force output to each of the driving-force output destinations until stabilization of the driving force for a driving-force output destination that takes longest time for the driving force to be stabilized.    
   
   
       12 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising: 
 controlling output of the driving force to each of driving-force output destinations based on an order of outputting the driving force and an interval of starting output of the driving force determined for each of the paths to be connected, wherein    the response time is determined based on a time from starting control of the driving force output to each of the driving-force output destinations until stabilization of the driving force for a driving-force output destination for which the driving force is output last.